Jeffery Daniel Locklear, 37, formerly of 623 McCharles St. in Dalton, was sentenced Wednesday to serve two life sentences plus 73 years in prison on charges of rape, aggravated sexual battery, aggravated child molestation, child molestation, incest and sexual battery.
Locklear was convicted of his crimes by a Whitfield County jury on Feb. 3, following a two-day trial. Assistant District Attorney Keely Parker presented the state’s case. Dalton attorney Jerry Moncus represented Locklear. The trial was presided over by Superior Court Judge William T. Boyett.
The sentence also includes a statutorily mandated two years on probation with sex offender and other standard conditions. Locklear will be eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 30 years in confinement with credit for time served since his arrest in November, 2015.
The evidence at trial showed Locklear committed sexual acts against a 10-year-old child and blood relative over a period of several months beginning in January of 2015. Detective Ronnie Morris of the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the case in May of 2015 after the child disclosed the abuse to a school counselor.
After an investigation, an indictment was returned by the Whitfield County Grand Jury in October 2015. Detective Morris, the school counselor and a Department of Children and Family Services Case Investigator all testified.
During the trial, the jury viewed a video of an interview of the victim conducted by Melissa Wells, a trained child forensic interviewer, at the Green House Child Advocacy Center in Dalton. In the interview, the victim detailed the multiple acts committed against her.
Additionally, the jury heard from a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, who testified that she could not rule out sexual assault after examining the victim. The child victim also testified.
Locklear did not testify on his own behalf nor did he call any witnesses.